Tuesday, November 29, 2011

I have finally pulled myself together and started making stuff again. The work week is still very busy, but I set last weekend aside for sewing, and my, was that great! I let cleaning and baking plans remain just that, plans, and turned the heater on in my bedroom/sewing room and devoted myself to cutting and stitching fabric while the storm raged outside.

I have more to show for my efforts, but I begin with these two pillows. The first one is made from my lovely stash of Sandi Henderson fabric - twelve different colourways of Henna Garden. I just love this fabric, and combining them all in one pillow means that I have a sample of each colourway even if I use the rest for gifts and all. My original plan was to fussy cut the fabric so that the pattern continued from one patch to another, and I carefully worked out the size of the patches accordingly. After making several mistakes, involving not taking into account the seam allowances (duh!) and turning fabric the wrong way, I confess that my patience got the better of me, and I ended up just cutting patches and stitching them together without taking the pattern into account. Had I stopped to think, I might have adjusted the size of the patches to make the centre square, but never mind, I like the pillow just the way it is!

The back is made from strips of Henna, and the light strip of cotton/linen fabric hides a zipper. I love this way of adding hidden zippers, making the back as interesting as the front, and it is so easy to do, see the tutorial here.

The other pillow was much more straightforward, using the Viewmaster fabric from Ruby Star Rising for the front, and retro radios and fashion ladies for the back.

The Viewmaster strip hides the zipper on this one, maknig it blend in with the rest of the pattern.

The Henna Garden Pillow is quilted with a thin layer of batting and an old, plain fabric remnant for backing - it gets hidden inside the pillow anyway, so it doesn't matter. The retro pillow is made from sturdier fabric and didn't need any extra support.
I used down pillow inserts for both these pillows and I just love the soft squishy feel of them!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Yes, admittedly I've only just begun, but I have been sewing today. And about time too, before I forget how it is done! I'm making box bags following this tutorial. Mine will be quilted, though. I spent some time wondering how to go about it, adding zippers and all. Eventually I decided to quilt the outer layer with batting and a cheater fabric that will be hidden inside the lining, and just follow the tutorial from there on. And why make one, if you can make four?

About Me

I quilt. Sometimes I knit and embroider as well. I love playing around with different fabrics and colours and keep looking for that elusive website where you can add more time to your days to get more stitching time...
I have no kids of my own, but lots of youngsters in my family who luckily still seem happy to receive all the quilty gifts I heap on their laps...